Most of you may know that this past week was the start of a new professional journey for me as I started at new job. Yes, relocation/vacation is over and it’s back to real work. Well as real as can be for now. So pardon my delay in getting some new material up on the blog here but I hope you’ll continue to follow the updates and posts that do come.
After our crazy relocation here to Florida just over a month ago, I am happy to report (as many know already) that I have started my latest role with 5.11 Tactical as a Store Manager for a brand new store opening in West Palm Beach in mid-August. After the decision was made to make our move after school ended for the kids in Minnesota, we discussed the options related to leaving my previous job with Carhartt or for me to stay in Minnesota until I could gain new work in Florida. We decided that it was better to leave Carhartt to be closer to the job market in Florida and focus locally on finding new work. Well, that decision was made back in April and not long after I came across a posting from 5.11 Tactical for a new Store Manager role needed for a new store opening in West Palm Beach, FL! Could this really be? You see, back in November and December I had talked with 5.11 Tactical about joining them in Minnesota. So much so, in fact, that they extended an offer to me for a Store Manager role just before Christmas. After some time thinking on it during the holiday and getting some very valuable feedback; I decided this particular opportunity and time was not right for me to leave my current role. This was not the first time I had turned down an offer and probably won’t be my last, but it was definitely one of the toughest. Considering where I was with work at Mall of America and just so crazy over-worked and tired I wanted out, period. But really it wasn’t necessarily about being out of Carhartt as much as it was the retail “box” and MOA, which is a beast if you work there too long. You see I was really after an opportunity outside of the “box”, as I have put it so much. I’ve done this for many years – working retail in a store front – and I’ve done very well in many areas. “Now is the time”, I was thinking, to make a move towards something that can help me grow professionally beyond the retail store. After all the “thinking” and collaboration and feedback, I decided to stay with Carhartt. 5.11 Tactical was moving in a great direction and I had every reason to believe I could make an impact and grow but it just didn’t feel like the time was right. And I made this decision, on my own after talking things through with Brooke and some of the people that I trust the most. Well then things happened and we movd and as we were planning our move to Florida the opportunity comes up for a brand new 5.11 Tactical store. It was fate, if even for a little while. I made contact with the people I had talked with previously and moved forward with some phone conversations and it worked out that I could meet them in person in Florida during a quick drive and drop with the moving truck.
Considering the timing and all the unknown variables at the time of our move I knew that my job after we got to Florida was to keep looking for a job. You never know, another opportunity may come up that is even better in many ways. This brought back a lot of memories – finding a job. In fact, my job was finding a job. When we relocated from Delaware to Minnesota in 2008 neither Brooke or I had jobs. It took several months for me to find one. Yet, thankfully, Brooke landed a great job in April of 2009 with an insurance agent where she stayed right up until we left for Florida. I, on the other hand, had challenges finding a job, let alone start a career over somehow. I remember being constantly bombarded with questions – “Where are you looking?” “Who are you talking to?” “Are you following up?” “How many resumes and applications?” “How many interviews?” “You need to get something soon” And on and on it seemed. And I, regretfully, caved to the pressure of taking a job with Comcast in their “Tech Support”. Ugh, that was a sad experience and something to talk about another day. Thankfully, a few months later a great opportunity came up with Bose again and I JUMPED on it.
Thinking back to that period in my life made me realize, again, that there are “jobs” out there for anyone and it will help pay some bills or get you out of the house or provide benefits for a family that truly needs that more than anything. But the right one, and best one, will not always just be presented in your lap or like fate was when I connected with 5.11 Tactical for the second time. There are times you will do things you don’t want to do when it comes to a “job”. A career is the the job that is also a passion, a way of life and something you truly love to do. Then you can see yourself doing it forever (relatively speaking).
For those younger people reading along here that have less experience in the working world, I have something to tell you: There has been a mixed message said often: “Do what you want to do” or “Be who you want to be” or “Don’t let anything stand in your way” or “Don’t settle for less than you’re worth”. And that type of message is inspiring and motivational but there is more to this statement that many people forget to pass on as well… “There will be times, more often than not, that there are things you will HAVE to do and they will not be what you want or what you like or what you planned for”. Remember that. Keep reaching for the stars, sure… but if you have to be the one that pumps the gas into the space ship – so be it! So when it comes to the point that you HAVE to get a job… get a JOB, you can find something! Get something to pay your bills, support yourself and your family and make an impact. You will have time and opportunities ahead that will help you find greener pastures.
I’m excited and nervous for what lies ahead for me professionally. Heck, for that matter I am nervous for what lies ahead for me personally too. I know that there are things that I CAN control and things I CAN’T. With this mindset as well as a very positive attitude, I’ll be able to take it all on. Just as any of you can too.
I've Been Thinking 